In a week of managerial non-appointments, it was ironic when the news of Alan Curbishley's resignation came out before Saturday's game with Charlton.

Here was a man who, in his own words, 'was walking out of the front door before being booted out the back' and for a manager who's benchmark has been mid-table mediocrity in his time at The Valley, that's some achievement.

When the news of Curbishley came through I'm sure I'm not the only one who thought it boded badly for us. Surely, last home game in charge and the players are going to want to send him out on a high.

Fortunately there was no such thing as the Addicks produced a performance so sterile the temptation was to change their nickname ever so slightly to a similar word but with just one syllable. Frankly it was just what we needed after the last few results but there's no coincidence that our return to form went hand in hand with the return of Tugay.

Opposing sides now are setting their stall out to stop who they perceive as the main danger in Craig Bellamy by defending deep. And to some extent it works, but when they do that it gives Tugay more room and time on the ball to do what he does best, dictate the play.

It's no exaggeration to say when he plays, all the team play and the performance along with the result can give us untold confidence for the visit of Mourinho and his champions tonight.

We may now be in the position where just one win will secure the great achievement of European football next year but how sweet would it be for that win to be against Chelsea.

Mourinho, pretty much made sure that the bully boy tag was one that stuck on us after the game where we outplayed them last year. What better way to complete the transformation from supposed bullies to UEFA qualifiers in twelve short months.

That's not to say that Mark Hughes has anything to prove to Mourinho or anyone else for that matter.

The way he has gone about his business at Ewood during his tenure has been nothing short of remarkable, so much so that some respected pundits (well Charlie Nicholas anyway) are even calling him the manager of the year.

Whether that's the case or not, one win out of the next two will make this season an unbridled success.

Hats off to Hughesy - we're lucky to have him.

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